Cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans, or the like, and method of making the same.



No. 829,915. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

' A I W. H. DODGE. GAP 0R CLOSURE FOR BDTTLE JANS, CANS, OR THE LIKE, AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

AlfBL IOATION IILED FEB. 12, 1906.

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, WiL-LIAMH. DODGE. or MoNroLArn, New JERSEY? CAP oacicsuas FOR BOTTLES, JARS, mason TH uremia Menace or MAKING THE sl me pecificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

application filed October 31, 1906, Serial No, 286,256. Divided and this application filed PhrnarylZ, 1906. eri in. 300,302. V

,To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. Donor, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Ca or Closure for Bottles, Jars, Cans, or the Li e,and Method of Making the Same, of which the following is a-speci'lication.

This invention relates to caps or closures for bottles, jars, cans, or the like and method of making the same and is divided from m pending application, Serial No. 285,255, filed October 31, 1905. y

The object of the invention is to provide a cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans, or the like which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and efficient in operation and use. i

A further object of the invention is to form a cap or closure of the character referred to from a single sheet or plate of material in an expeditious and economical manner.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, arrangement of parts, and mode of operation,

all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth,

as shown in the accompanying drawings, and

finally pointed out in the appendedcclaimsc,

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in plan of a cap or closure embodying the principles of my invention and showing the same before contracting the circumferential length of the flange thereof. Fig. 2 is a broken view in plan, showing the cap or closure of the form disclosed in Fig. 1 after the contraction in the length of the flange. Fig.- 3 is a view in side elevation, parts in section, showing the application of a cap or closure embodying the principles of my invention to a bottle, jar, can, or the like. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are broken detail views showing various forms of integral connecting-web portions of the flange and which are adapted to be bent or folded into loops to contract the circumfercntial length of the flange.

The same part is designated by the same reference-numerals wherever they occur throughout the several views.

In the manufacture of caps or closures for bottles, jars, cans, or the like it is desirable to produce a device which is simple in conbottle, jar, can, or the like,'while at the same I time forming anefiicient hermetic seal therefor. In my pending application, Serial No. 285,255, filed October 31, 1905, of which the present application. is a divisionfl I have shown, described, and claimed generically various constructions of cap or closure where.- in these various objects are accomplished.

in the present application I have shown and will now describe and claim one of the specific forms of construction and the method of making the same, shown, described, and claimed broadly and generically in my prior application. In attaining the desired objects in the present instance I propose to avoid employing a pluralityof parts and the consequent necessity for assembling such parts by hand, and I propose to provide means whereby the effective inclosing or surrounding diameter of the cap or closure is contractible, and therefore in accordance w th the principles of my invention 1 first form a blank sheet or plate of suitable material, preferably of sheet metalsuch, for instance, as tinthough in this respect I do not desire to be limited. or restricted into an eccentric-sha ,ed shell having a top or base and a latera continuous flange formed integrallv therewith. I then remove a strip from t e base or top to reduce the same to circular contour and to separate the flange from the top or base for a portion of the circumferentiallength of the flange, thereby reducing the peripheral length of the top or base without reducing the circumferential length of the flange, and I connect the separated portion. of the'flange at the ends thereof to the adjacent portions of the flange by means of integral connecting-web portio' which, if desired, may be reduced in tree verse width or otherwise suitably weak e and which are capable of being folded loops or bends, so as to contract the eilclljiil r ferential length of the flange forapplication of the cap to a bottle, jar, or the like and of being unfolded to extendv the circumferential length of the flange to loosen the same in or der that the cop may be removed. in sepa-' rating the ilange from the top or base I also propose to leave a portion oftl c'baso con: nected to the separated part of the llnngc for a portion of the length of such separated pa rt,

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thereby forming an engaging lip or'rim to engage over or upon the adjacent edge of the.

top or base when the flange is contracted in its peripheral length.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-s1gn 1 designates the top or base of the cap, and 2 the continuous flange formed integrally with the top orbase. The flange is separated from the top or base 1 for a portion of the circumferential length of the flange, the separated portion of theflange being indicated at 3. The separation of the flange, as above indicated, is effected by cutting throu 11 the top or base 1, as, indicated at 4, Fi 1, t ereby reducingthe top or base to circular contour, leaving the flange of greater circumferential length than the perlpheral length of the top or base. In practice the line of cut to effect the separation of the portion of the flange and the removal of the strip from the top or base extends along and adjacent the peripheral edge of the base or top, leaving, however, a portion 5 of the base or top connected to the separated portion of the flange in order to form a lip or rim to engage with or lap past or u on the adjacent edge of the top or base w 1en the flange is contracted in the circumferential length thereof. In practice and in accordance with my present invention the en aging lip 5 does not extend the entire length of the separated portion of the flange, but the line of out which produces the separated portion of the flange and the engaging-lip portion 5 thereof extends at each end thereof, as indicated at 6, Fig. 1, to .the flange itself, thereby leaving an integral web portion 7 at each end of the severed portion of the flange and connecting such separated portion of the flange at its ends to the adjacent portions of the cap or flange. In forming the completed cap or closure these integral connecting-web portions 7 are bent or folded into loops 8, thereby contracting the circumferential length of the flange and enabling the lip 5 to engage over or lap upon or past the adjacent edge of the top or base, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, thereby efficiently closing the slit or opening made by the cut which produces the flange 5 and separates the flange for a portion of its length, as above explalned.

It is obvious that -the integral connecting portions 7 may be of any suitable shape or design. In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have shown at 9, 10, and 11 various shapes and styles of integral connecting -webs which are equally well adapted for my purposes. Should it be desired to effect the rupture or breakage of the inte ral connecting-webs in removing the cap or closure for a bottle, jar, can, or the like, the webs may be. suitably weakened-as, for instance, by providing therein or thereacross, at one or more suitable points, grooves or scores, (indicated by dotted lines at 12, Fig. 4, and 13, Fig. 5.)

In the application of a cap or closure e1nbodying the principles of my invention to a bottle, jar, can, or the like (indicated at 14, Fig. 3,) I prefer to employ a sealing-disk 15, which is applied to the top of the bottle, jar, can, or the like, or which may be placed in the bottom of the shell of the cap or closure. When the flange is contracted in its circumferential length, the 1i 5 enga es with or laps past or upon the a jacent e ge of the base or top of the cap, as clearly shown, and in order to secure the cap or closure u on the mouth of the bottle, jar, can, or the ike the edge of the flange 2 may be crimped under the shoulder 16, formed on or surrounding such mouth, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof, and the mode of operation involved in the manufacture, what I claim as newand useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like, having 'a base or top and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, saidflange being separated from the base or top for a ortion of the circumferential length of such ange, the separated portion of the flange having a fold or loop formed therein at each end thereof to contract the circumferential length of such flange.

2. A cap or closure for bottles, ars, cans or the like, having a base or top and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, said flange belng separated from the base or top for a portion of its circumferential length, the separated portion of the flange being connected to the unseparated portion of the flange at the ends thereof by means of integral connecting-webs, said webs adapted to be bent into folds or loops to contract the circumferential length of such flange.

3. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like, having a top or base and a contin uous flange formed inte rally therewith, said flange belng separated 'rom the base or top for a portion of the circumferential length of such flange, the separated portion of the flange being connected at its ends to the unseparated portion of the flange by integral weakened webs adapted to be folded or bent into loops to contract the circumferential length of such flange.

4. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like having a top or base and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, said flange beingseparatedfrom the base or top for a portion of the circumferential length of such flange having a lip to engage over or lap past or upon the adjacent edge of the top or base, the separated portion of the flange being connected at the ends thereof with the unseparated portion of the flange by means of integral webs adapted to be Its 5. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or thelike having a top or base. and a continuous flange formed. integrally therewith, said flange being separated from the base or top for a portion of thelength of such flange, the separated portion of the flange having an engaging lip, saidengaging lip terminating short of the ends of the separated portion of the flange, thereby forming integral web portions for connecting the separated part of the flange at the ends thereof to the unseparated part of theflange, saidconnecting-web ortions adapted to be formed into loops or olds to contract the circumferential length of the flange.

6. In the manufacture of caps or closures for bottles, jars, cans, or the like, the method Whichconsists in forming aplate or sheet of suitable material into an eccentric-shaped shell having a top or base and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, then removing a strip from the base or top to separate said flange from the base or top-for a portion of the length of such flange, and to reduce the base or top to circular contour leaving the flange of greater circumferential length than the peripheral length of the base or top and finally bending or folding the sep' flange, thereby reducing the base or top to circular contour, leaving the flange of reater circumferential length than the peripheral length of the base or top then weakening the separated portion of the flange at the ends thereof, and finally bending or folding the weakened ortions of the flange into loos to contract t e circumferential length 0 the flange. v

9. In the manufacture of caps or closures for bottles, jars, cans orthe like, the method 7c which consists in forming a sheet or plate-of suitablematerial into an eccentric-shaped. shell having a top or base and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, then removing a-strip from the to l) line adjacent the periphera edge thereof to reduce the top or base to circular contour and to separate the'flange from. the base or top for a portion of the length of such flange,

thereby leaving the flange of greater circum- 8o ferential length than the eripheral length of the base or top and also ieavlng a portion of the'base or top connected to the separated iplalrt of the flange to form a lip thereon, and

ally bending or foldin the ends of the 8 separated ortlon of the ange into loo s to contract flange.

10. In the manufacture of caps or closures t e circumferential length 0 the or base along a arated part ofthe flange at the ends thereof for bottles, jars, cans or the like, the method for bottles, jars, cans or the like, the method 0 which consists in forming a plate orvsheet of suitable material into an eccentric-shaped shell having a base or top and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, then removing a strip from the to or base along a line adjacent the periphera edge thereof to into loops to contract the circumferential length 0 such flange.

7. In the manufacture of caps or closures which consists in forming a plate or sheet of sultable material Into aneccentric-shaped shell having a top or base and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, then removing a strip from the to or' base-to separate said flange from the ase or-top for a {portion of the circumferential length of' such flange, thereby reducing the base or top to circular contour leaving the flange of eaten circumferential length than the length of the base or top then re ucing the width of the separated portion of the flange at theends thereof, and finally folding'the s to' contract the? circumferential length oft e flangelg '..;'-I' 'fl 8. In the manufacture of'caps or closures 1 reduced portions into for bottles, jars, cans or the like, the method which consists in forming a sheet or plate of suitable material into an eccentric-shaped shell having a top or base and a continuous flange formed integrally therewith, then removing a strip from the base or top to separate the flange from the base or top fon a portion of the circumferential length of such and continuin lperlpheral reduce the base or top to circular'contour, the ends of the slit orv cut made by the removal of the strip approaching the flange length of the ange, thereby formin an engaging li for a portion of the len t of the separate part of the flange, an integral connecting ortions conne'ctingsuch se arated part of the unseparated portion of the flange, and

' finally bending or folding the webs into 100 s to contract the circumferential length of t e ange.

name to this specification, in the presence of? two subscribing witnesses, on this 5th da'yof February,'A. DJ 1906.

. W I M H en:

Witnesses: X I

HENRY Bnsyr; S E. DARBY.

a short distance along the r60 the flange at the ends thereo to" "to *In testimony whereof I have signed my rr'o 

